The American Public Works Association (APWA) expanded its fleet educational offerings at its annual Public Works Expo (PWX), providing more than a full day of fleet classes, up from three guaranteed classes in the past.

The conference this year provided 10 hours of fleet education and more than 50 fleet-related vendors on the expo floor, said Sam Lamerato, CPFP, retired fleet manager and fleet service committee chair for the APWA. The majority of this was through an all-day workshop addressing fleet challenges and solutions.

This push from fleet members to expand educational offerings was met with enthusiasm from attendees. Jeff Booton, director of fleet management at Denver International Airport in Colorado, attended the conference after seeing the increased focus in fleet.

“I looked into the PWX, and it looked interesting because they made a fleet day out of it,” he said. “I wanted to come and see how they put it together and what was involved in it, and it turns out it’s a good organization.”

Dan Sunseri, fleet manager for the City of San Jose, Calif., began attending PWX after the fleet division was recently moved to the Public Works department.

“It’s more comprehensive and detailed information that fleets can take back with them and implement right away,” he said of the educational sessions.

He found panelists’ overview of the Top 10 Performance Measures for 21st Century Fleet Management to be most useful.

APWA fleet members are working on additional updates and offerings, including updating books and manuals, promoting the group’s certified public fleet professional (CPFP) certification, and a national roadeo at future expos.

“From the national APWA perspective, it’s important for us to give the membership what they’re looking for and part of this is the fleet technical side of it. All agencies have fleet so it’s important for us to provide that information,” said Mary Joyce Ivers, CPFP, PWLF, fleet and facilities manager for the City of Ventura, Calif., and director at large for the APWA.

Also at the conference, the APWA awarded Melvin Garrett, assistant fleet director at Charleston County, S.C., with the Professional Manager of the Year Award in Public Fleet.

The 2016 PWX took place August 28-31 in Minneapolis. The 2017 PWX will take place August 27-30 in Orlando, Fla.